POLICE have appealed for help in tracking down a rapist on the second anniversary of the night he attacked a 16-year-old girl.

The knifepoint attack happened on Tuesday, July 22, 2003, in Washington Old Village, near the junction of the A1231 and Parkway.

The teenager was walking along the road at about 8.30pm when a man, aged about 40, dragged her into bushes and raped her. She was left with scratch marks on her throat after being threatened with the knife during her ordeal.

The girl was left extremely distressed, but managed to escape and get help. She described her attacker as being 6ft and of medium build, wearing a blue baseball cap, green rain jacket, jeans and brown shoes.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Potts, of Sunderland Area Command, said: "This was an horrific attack against a young woman.

"I would urge members of the public to look again at the description of the man responsible for this crime and to ring us if they believe they may know who he is."

Northumbria Police is asking the public to contact Sunderland CID on 0191-454 7555 ext 66445 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if they have any information.